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On 22 November 2013, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), met with Mr. Igor Radojičić, President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska. They were joined in the meeting by Mr. Duško Perović, representative of Republika Srpska to the Russian Federation; Mr. Mladen Brancović, head of Mr. Radojičić’ secretariat; counsellor Milan Grubor; archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; and Mr. Miguel Palacio, a staff member of the DECR secretariat for far abroad countries.

Metropolitan Hilarion warmly greeted the high guest and his suite and shared with them reminiscences of his visit to Banja Luka paid at the invitation of the President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, in November 2012. The DECR chairman noted that the development of relations with Republika Srpska was important to the Moscow Patriarchate.

Metropolitan Hilarion underscored that the life of the Russian and Serbian people had been historically determined by holistic guidelines, this being a pledge of the future for both nations. He believes that the Church and the state have a common mission – to uphold healthy moral climate in society. ‘The demographic crisis is a major problem in Europe at present, and it is necessary to pursue the policy of supporting the family to overcome this crisis,’ he said.

President Radojičić thanked the DECR chairman for the meeting, conveyed greetings from President Dodik and Bishop Jefrem of Banja Luka to him and told him about the present situation in Republika Srpska, emphasizing that the Serbian Orthodox Church is an important consolidating authority there.